Lithuania election commission to remove Druskininkai mayor after corruption verdict

Lithuania’s Central Electoral Commission will remove Druskininkai Mayor Ričardas Malinauskas from office on Thursday after an appeals court upheld his conviction in a corruption case, LRT reports.

The Appeals Court on Monday upheld a Kaunas Regional Court ruling that imposed a fine of 60,000 euros on Malinauskas last year in a corruption case involving former judges.

Malinauskas was found guilty of bribery, offering bribes, influence peddling and illicit enrichment. The ruling can be appealed to the Supreme Court of Lithuania, but the Appeals Court’s decision took effect immediately.

Under the Electoral Code, a mayor’s powers must be revoked once a conviction takes effect. The decision is made by the Central Electoral Commission.

Because less than a year remains until the next scheduled direct mayoral elections, a new mayor will not be elected. A council member appointed by the municipal council will temporarily perform the mayor’s duties.

The Druskininkai Municipal Council plans to meet on September 21 to address the matter.

Because the courts did not impose an additional criminal measure or ban Malinauskas from holding certain positions for a specified period, he will be able to run in next March’s municipal elections if he completes his sentence by paying the court-ordered fine.

Malinauskas has served as Druskininkai mayor since 2000.